Press Room : Press Release

Boston, MA – The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) today launched its annual Turkey Drive, an online fundraising effort, to help ensure 40,000 families in need will be able to enjoy a traditional turkey dinner this Thanksgiving. One in nine residents of eastern Massachusetts is food insecure; a fact even more alarming during the holiday season. GBFB is calling on the public to support hungry children, seniors, veterans, students, and adults by participating in this important campaign.

According to Catherine D’Amato, GBFB President and CEO, individuals, corporations, and organizations can fundraise online to help bring families together around the holiday table. "In the past, groups calling themselves ‘Turkey Teams’ have established fundraising goals and encouraged friends, family members, neighbors and colleagues to donate to our annual Turkey Drive. Generous contributions and enthusiastic support can make a real difference in the lives of families struggling in this difficult economic climate."

Last year, the winning Turkey Drive team was Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company. The company’s employees donated 535 turkeys to families in need.

“GBFB’s Turkey Drive is a favorite of Millennium employees, and we make it easy to donate through an internal pay-roll deduction. In addition, employees can double their donation by using the com¬pany’s matching gift benefit,” noted Shant Salakian, of Millennium’s internal and corporate communications division. “For this year’s Drive, we’re expanding our internal email and televised promotions, and hope to increase our donation even more.”

Steadily climbing food costs coupled with a 20 percent decrease in the amount of food provided to the GBFB by the USDA makes the need for supplemental meals and financial support even greater this year. "In times of uncertainty, helping families come together on Thanksgiving has never been so important," said D'Amato.

GBFB has seen success in the past with the Turkey Drive, raising enough money last year to feed a record-breaking 43,968 families. This Thanksgiving, the organization aims to, once again, provide more than 40,000 turkeys to families in eastern Massachusetts.

To contribute as an individual, or start a team with your family, friends, or workplace visit http://www.gbfb.org/turkeydrive. Every $17 donated will make Thanksgiving possible for a family in need.

About The Greater Boston Food Bank

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. GBFB distributes nearly 41 million pounds of food and grocery products annually to 550 member hunger-relief agencies and more than 30 direct service programs throughout eastern Massachusetts in a dedicated partnership to end hunger in our region. This provides meals for as many as 545,000 people a year. GBFB is a member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network. For more information, visit us at GBFB.org, become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank), or call us at 617.427.5200.